(Sep. 3): In a speech given tonight at the Republican National Convention, former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee snarkily announced to the crowd that his party's vice presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, won more votes when she ran for Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than the votes that Democratic Senator Joe Biden won in the 2008 presidential race.
I really wish that instead of checking his coat at the door, that Mr. Huckabee had checked his facts instead.
When Mayor Palin ran for re-election in 1999, she won the race by 909 votes to 292for her competitor, John Stein. But don't take my word for it. Check the link above and see it for yourself.
As far as the votes garnered by Sen. Biden, let's start with the first state to hold a presidential caucus on January 3, Iowa. On caucus day Sen. Biden won 2,328 votes in that state, and won additional votes in other states as well. This info is from the CNN Elections Center - they keep track of these things.
Not only was Mr. Huckabee incorrect in his matter-of-fact statement -- but just by counting the votes in ONE STATE in the Democratic primaries, Joe Biden won MORE THAN TWICE the votes that Ms. Palin did. And on February 6, also known as Super Tuesday, he had at least one vote in my home state of New Jersey -- mine.
So, Mr. Huckabee, it would be so much more helpful next time to remember this rule: keep your coat and check your facts.